Growing Strawberries
in Orange County
Laguna Hills Nursery
(714) 542-5600
www.lagunahillsnursery.com
Wild strawberries are native to all northern temperate climates
and Chile. The modern strawberry, Fragaria X ananassa, was
developed over 100 years ago in Europe. Breeders crossed the
delicious Fragaria virginiana (native to North America) with
the large fruited Fragaria chiloensis (native to the west coast
of North and South America). The tiny, but tasty Alpine (aka
Woodland) strawberry is native to Europe.
California farms grow 80% of the entire USA crop, about
25,000 acres total. Orange, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San
Diego county farms account for about 1/3 of that (the Central
Coast is about 2/3). The average yield is about one pound per
square foot. Other states harvest less than ¼ of that.
California nurseries grow about 1 billion baby plants each
year, 600 million for California farms.
Local commercial farms install new plants every fall to
produce a very early crop starting in early winter. The early
crop commands the highest prices. Nearly all use
conventional chemicals. A few farm organically
.
Strawberry plants require good to excellent drainage and
perform best in sandy loam or loamy sand. They will perform
in heavier soils if the bed is raised high enough to create better
drainage. Local farms raise the soil about 18 inches which
also makes harvesting easier. Drip irrigation lines are
installed for high efficiency and to keep the foliage and fruit
dry. From this point conventional farming techniques are
quite different.
Conventional soil preparation
To promote an artificially early crop the rows are covered with
clear plastic. The clear cover traps the sun’s energy and the
soil stays quite warm. To prevent weed seed from
germinating and competing with the crop the soil must be
fumigated. The irrigation lines distribute fumigation
chemicals underneath the plastic and in 5 days all seeds,
diseases and bugs are killed. The plastic is then cut between
the beds and the fields will be ready to plant 2 weeks later.
Without fumigation the strawberry plants couldn’t be planted
every year and the use of transparent plastic mulch would just
result in a crop of weeds.
Organic soil preparation
On organic farms, only a fraction of the land is planted with
strawberries at a time. Unrelated crops are rotated to avoid a
buildup of pest or disease problems in any one location. A
crop of legumes (beans, peas, or alfalfa) will increase the soils
nitrogen and a crop of broccoli seems to discourage a root
disease (Verticillium).
Weeds are a major problem. Weed competition can
dramatically lower production. Some organic farms pull weed
constantly, some cover the soil with black plastic, some apply
a surface mulch. All options are a significant expense, but
higher prices for organic produce usually offset the cost.
Black plastic prevents about 90% of the weeds, but doesn’t
warm the soil as much as a clear plastic mulch.
Installing the Plants
All farms acquire and install bare root plants. These plants
come pre-chilled. All strawberry plants need a period of
winter chill between 34F and 55F to initiate vigorous growth
and complete development of flower buds. The farmer must
guess how long they should refrigerate the bare root plants to
balance the chill that they will naturally receive during winter
following installation.
Farms use a spiked roller to punch a deep hole into the bed
(through the plastic mulch) at regular intervals. The workers
then place each plant with its crown at soil level and firm the
soil around the roots to hold it in place. The bed is then
watered thoroughly with sprinklers to properly settle the
plants. Once established the farms then use the soaker tubing
for irrigation.
Local Farms Replant Annually
In order to get the early harvest, local farmers must install
prechilled plants every year. Strawberry plants can produce
for 3-4 years, but without clear plastic mulch and prechilling,
the plants won’t produce until spring.
Fertilization
Farms usually consult with soil labs to provide proper
nutrition, however, strawberry plants do fine with levels of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that are fairly even. For
short term results Osmocote 14-14-14 is fine. For long term
results use organic fertilizers.
Harvesting
Berries are ready to pick about 4-5 weeks after blooming
commences. It is best to pick off the first stalk of flower buds
to allow the plant to build strength before production begins.
Workers are sent through each field 2-3 times per week to pick
ripe berries. To maximize shelf life the berries are gently
picked, not allowed to get wet, and cooled immediately.
Growing Strawberries at Home
A typical strawberry plant can produce fruit for 3-4 years.
On young plants remove the first set of flowers so that the
plant can gain size and strength before production
begins. A single, well-developed plant can grow over 18inches wide and 10-inches high.
Strawberry plants should be located in sun (1/2 day is
minimum) and planted in well-drained soil. Heavy soils
should be elevated into substantial mounds or raised
beds to improve drainage. Plants are placed 12-18”
apart.
Strawberry plants can be purchased in containers or as
bare root. Bare root plants are more commonly planted
during mild weather late fall through spring.
Strawberry plants perform quite well in pots. The berries
are hanging over the edge but not touching the ground.
This gives them some protection from birds, slugs, snails
and pillbugs. You can grow a single, full-size plant in an
8-inch container. Our Laguna Hills Nursery custom
potting soils, ACID MIX and TOP POT POTTING SOIL
are superb. Most commercial potting soils will provide
mediocre results. Perhaps the best potting soil is
construction sand. We’ve grown some beautiful plants in
pure sand. Our favorite soil in containers is a mixture of
sand with ACID MIX (lighter weight).
Strawberry plants require ample moisture at all times.
Plants that get severely dry often don’t recover until the
following year. Small pots placed in deep saucers filled
with water can last a week on a single irrigation. The
“moat” that is created will also guard against snails,
earwigs and pillbugs.
During summer most plants produce baby plants on long
stems called “runners”. These baby plants will grow roots
where they touch the soil. These can be removed to
increase production of berries or saved to increase the
number of plants. The baby plants start production the
next year. Do not allow too many baby plants to grow.
Try to keep them a minimum of 6-inches apart on center.
Older plants and dead plants can be removed to make
room. Results are improved greatly if several handfuls of
soil are also removed and replaced when removing old
plants or when rooting the baby plants.
Strawberry plantings require crop rotation, just like any
other crop.
The plants that grow from runners are clones and
genetically identical to the parent. Strawberry plants will
also grow from seed, however these will be genetically
different.
CULTIVARS
Strawberry varieties can be classified as to when they
bear fruit and how they grow.
June Bearing (Short day) varieties are most
common. They generally have the largest, highest quality
berries and are the most productive. They also produce
the most runners during summer. They produce few fruit
between August and November. The Southern California
commercial varieties currently are Camarosa, Palomar,
and Ventana. These were chosen for heavy early
production (using clear plastic mulch), storage
characteristics, beauty, and ease of production.
Camarosa This is a popular commercial variety
with high yield and large to very large firm fruit of
good flavor. Mildew may be a problem.
Chandler This is probably the most popular
variety for home use and U-pick farms. The berries
are medium to large with medium firm flesh and are
very sweet and fragrant. Outstanding flavor. Long
harvest period.
Palomar A new commercial variety for local
growers that has excellent flavor. The flesh is firm.
Sequoia This variety set the standards for flavor
and sweetness in Southern California. The large
berries are not firm and require frequent harvesting.
Outstanding flavor. Long harvest period.
Ventana Similar to Camarosa with slightly
larger fruit and slightly better flavor (considered
very good).
Everbearing & Day Neutral
These varieties produce continuously, although lightest in
summer and sporadically through fall. Mild coastal
conditions promote more constant production. High
temperatures inhibit flower production.
Albion This new variety has very attractive, long
conical, unusually symmetrical fruit with dark red
skin and dark red flesh. Outstanding flavor. It is
resistant to various root diseases. It produces a high
number of runners compared to other everbearers.
Remove these to increase production. THIS HAS
BECOME OUR TOP SELLER
Monterey This variety has outstanding flavor
and is the only variety with a notably sweet
aftertaste. The flesh is firm. Unfortunately it is
susceptible to mildew.
San Andreas Similar to Albion, perhaps a
better producer with the same outstanding flavor
and very firm flesh. Doesn’t share Albion’s
problem of excessive runner production.
Seascape The fruit are large and attractive with
glossy skin and very good flavor. The plants are
extra vigorous. This variety resists many viral
diseases and is highly productive.
Alpine (Woodland)
These small, clump-forming, plants produce
small (tiny), highly fragrant berries over a long period
during warm weather. These can be grown from seed or
divisions.
Alexandria The fruits are red with unbelievable
flavor.